Cancer Sun, Libra Moon : “The Emotional Memory”

“It is very important to understand that emotional intelligence is not the opposite of intelligence, it is not the triumph of heart over head — it is the unique intersection of both.” — David Caruso

How do you go about integrating Emotional perception with social acumen?

One of your life tasks is to explore this question along with an in depth consideration of the part that reciprocity plays within your personal relationships. Through active participation and building bridges with others, you increase the possibilities for illuminating and realizing the types of security and connections that energize you.

“Putting it all out there” may be difficult for you, but you’ll have to come to grips with navigating this territory, both artistically and romantically. While a sense of attachment, or “belonging” to something or someone, possibly a biological or ideological “family” can generate a sense of grounding and empowerment, if it becomes your sole obsession, it can manifest in an unhealthy manner as “tunnel vision” of the heart.

Your psyche requires a balancing, which includes approaching the general principles of logic, fairness and objectivity with the same considerations that you provide for specific individuals.

A natural ‘square” relationship exists between Cancer and Libra which means that the ambiance of dynamic and developmental tension is present. These signs challenge one another. While this isn’t necessarily comfortable, a successful integration of both energies can heighten and increase the effectiveness of how they both operate.

You’ll know that you’re on the right track when a friend invites you to check out an art exhibit at the Guggenheim during the afternoon, and in the wee hours of the morning, another friend has phoned you looking for an empathetic listening ear because their relationship is on the rocks.

In her book “Aspects in Astrology” Sue Tomkins discusses the meaning and function of squares more in detail:

“Squares are useful too, because it is through meeting obstacles that we grow, either by refining our own position or making it stronger, whatever is appropriate.”

In the case of a Cancer Sun and Libra Moon, the tension may manifest through the lens of partnership, home and family. The possibility exists for competing concerns behind the requirements and challenges of carrying on two sets of relationships.

One of the most important lessons to learn for those with this combination is connected to the potential dangers of constructing an ultra-amicable front which masks one’s true feelings or vulnerabilities.

While becoming stuck in an instinctive “safe space” of feigning interest in others, one can diminish the dynamic of mutual interaction. If this is the case, you may feel cheated because you’re rarely able to reveal your true feelings. Inner frustration follows and decisions can be made from a place of convenience rather than what gives you vitality. This is the classic cutting off your nose to spite your face; an attempt to live vicariously through others. The residue of dissatisfaction lingers around like an unpaid student loan debt that’s collecting interest.

The greater news for you, however, is that the mind and heart we never meant to be enemies. Both of them have valid ways of knowing and understanding. Successful navigation of your Sun-Moon blend isn’t a case where you devalue your capacity to feel and assign reasoning with a superior status.

In the book “Emotional Intimacy” by Dr. Robert Augustus Masters, he advances this point:

“Emotional illiteracy or lack of emotional sensitivity, understanding and savvy- has much of its rooting in the historical devaluation of emotion relative to cognition. Thinking clearly thus gets overly associated with dispassion or a muting of our emotions.”

“What we see here is the automatic identification of emotion with subjectivity in the sense that subjectivity is a failure to be objective. In fact, our logical faculties tend to lag behind our emotional “knowing” when it comes to making good decisions. This lag primarily occurs because our emotionally based take on a topic employs more of the brain and draws from FAR more data- and thereby processes it more multi-dimensionally- than does our purely logical take. Can we be objective and emotional at the same time? YES.”

With a Cancer Sun and Libra Moon, your ability to be “civil” doesn’t necessarily have to come at the expense of sending your emotions to “go play in the other room.” The question to managing these energies comes down to making good decisions as to which faculties you will employ, and when. Driving this point home, Augustus Masters states:

“Distancing, dissociating, numbing or otherwise estranging ourselves from our emotions hobbles our capacity to act wisely and compassionately. Research has shown that deteriorated emotional functioning- likely caused by damage to brain regions involved in emotional processing, can retard our ability to make sound decisions even if our I.Q. remains intact. So if you want to make optimal decisions, DO NOT leave your emotions out of the picture.”

“When you can understand your different needs, you can direct your analytical talents to yourself and see that it is okay to be both needy and friendly, emotional and intellectual, self-protective and outgoing.”

The universe wouldn’t have conspired to grant you this particular blend if it wasn’t meant for you to have the opportunity to access the entire range of faculties and potentials contained in the Cancerian and Libran archetypes.

What sense would it make to possess this solar-lunar combination and have to “pick a side”?

Can the nurturer and the socialite be friends? Of course.

Can the artist and the healer have a productive relationship? Yes. In fact, it’s essential for them to bond in order for you to do your most potent work.

While you’ll be required to make decisions regarding the appropriate course of action where your mind and heart are concerned, if you’re truly committed to using what your sun-moon combination has to offer, you’ll be employing BOTH of them and your storehouse of resources will never be short.

If you have this blend in your birth chart, your theme song is : “Memory Of… (US)” by De La Soul featuring Estelle & Pete Rock. You can listen right here: